The New-age talents are on the rise in the world of football, it’s fair to say that, they have brought significant excitement with their skills setting new records and benchmarks in the game at such a young age. In recent times, we have seen numerous prodigies rise to fame across all top five leagues, clubs and the biggest footballing nations like Spain, England, and Brazil. Therefore, we are going to explore who are the top 5 best young football player currently and have managed to leave their mark on the global stage.
List of Top Young Players in Football 2024
| Ranking | Name | Age | Club | Country |
| 1 | Lamine Yamal | 17 | Barcelona | Spain |
| 2 | Bukayo Saka | 23 | Arsenal | England |
| 3 | Phil Foden | 24 | Man City | England |
| 4 | Endrik | 18 | Real Madrid | Brazil |
| 5 | Gavi | 20 | Barcelona | Spain |
Here we take a look at some of the best young football players in recent times:
1. Lamine Yamal (17): Barcelona
Coming up from the ranks of Barcelona’s youth set-up, the Spanish prodigy has steadily climbed the charts in world football. He has proved to be one of the most influential players for the La Liga club in recent times. He is currently the best young football player. The 16-year-old Spanish winger has surprised fans with his knowledge and understanding of the game.
Lamine Yamal has made himself a prominent name in Barca’s team sheet in a very short space of time. Also, to made his debut for Spain at such a young age and went on to win the European Championship 2024 with Spain illuminating the continent with his outrageous campaign. Time and over again he has proven his credentials on the pitch, becoming the best prodigy in world football.
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2. Bukayo Saka (23): Arsenal
Bukayo Saka is among the world’s best young football players. The 22-year-old has mesmerized everyone in the football hierarchy with his skills and passion for the game. In such a short space of time, he has become a really important player for both his club and country.
What makes Saka unique is his ability to maintain composure during crucial junctures of a match. He can turn a game on its head with his sheer pace and outrageous dribbling skills that make him a nightmare for the defenders to play against. The England international surely tops the list when it comes to the best young football players in the world.
3. Phil Foden (24): Man City
Manchester City’s Phil Foden has emerged among young football players as an exceptional player at both club and country level. He is the youngest football player in the world. Pep Guardiola’s influence at the Premier League club has turned him into a versatile player and one who is pretty capable of inter-linking the play at crucial junctures of a match. Despite not being an out-and-out attacking player,
Foden often finds himself on the scoresheet having scored 19 goals and providing 8 assists for the English champions last season in the 2023-24 season. At just 24 years of age, he looks like a player with over a decade of experience on his shoulders. Foden has developed into a world-class player who will be remembered by generations in football.
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4. Endrick (18): Real Madrid
After becoming the youngest player to score for Brazil on the international stage after a gap of almost 30 years, the 17-year-old Endrick has shown that he is one of the rising stars of world football and one to watch out for in the future. At the club level, he finally completed his move to the Spanish giants Real Madrid in the summer of 2024 and immediately impressed the fans and Carlo Ancelloti scoring two goals so far this season.
His rise from the Brazilian club Palmeiras as a teenager at the age of 15 depicts an epic example for those dreaming of making it big on their own. He had caught the eye with his mesmerizing, skillful, and consistent performances in the last year and subsequently earned a contract from Los Blancos. Moreover, he has also made the mark at the international level for Brazil and that too at such a young age reflects the head that he has on his shoulder.
5. Gavi (20): Barcelona
The FC Barcelona youngster Gavi has turned out to be a consistent performer at both club and country levels in the past couple of years. The 20-year-old midfielder was flying in terms of performance before catching a serious injury in the latter part of 2023 and has been on the sidelines since then. However, he is soon expected to return to the on-field to resume action for Spain and Barcelona till the end of 2024.
His midfield prowess holds and showcases a player who is pretty capable of holding the play as well as moving forward up the pitch when the situation permits him to. Rising from the ranks of Barcelona’s youth set-up, Gavi is surely one of the best young football players in the world as of now.
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FAQ
Q. Who are the top-ranked young football players in the world?
Lamine Yamal, Bukayo Saka, Phil Foden, Endrick and Gavi are top-ranked young football players in the world.
Q. At what age do these players typically start their professional careers?
These players typically start their professional careers from the age of 15.
Q. Which leagues are most of these young talents playing in?
Most of these young talents are playing in La Liga and Premier League.
Q. Who is the best young player in the world in 2024?
Lamine Yamal is the best young player in the world.
Q. When did Endrick sign for Real Madrid?
Real Madrid signed the Brazilian prodigy at the age of 15 in 2022.
Q. How many Premier League titles has Phil Foden won?
Phill Foden has won six Premier League titles with Manchester City.